The complete string quartets by Danish composer Carl Nielsen.
1.
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| Carl Nielsen outside his childhood house at Nørre Lyndelse, Funen, Denmark in 1927 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Performed by the New Hellenic String Quartet
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andante: Con sordini e sempre sotto voce
III. Scherzo: Allegro
IV. Finale: Allegro molto
An early string quartet by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931), his first work in this form, written while studying under Niels Gade at the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen.
2-3.
String Quartet in F (FS 3k) (1887)
Performed by the New Hellenic String Quartet
I. Allegro - Presto
II. Andante tranquillemente [Tranquillo]
II. Menuetto: Allegro moderato
IV. Allegro molto
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| The Carl Nielsen family in the courtyard in front of the Fuglsang Manor on Lolland where he was a frequent guest of the owners along with other composers and artists, c. 1915 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
4-6.
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 (1899)
performed by the Danish Quartet.
I. Allegro energico
II. Andante amoroso - Agitato - Tempo primo
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto
IV. Finale: Allegro inquieto
A beautiful string quartet by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1913). Nielsen published four "official" string quartets as a series (Opp. 13, 5, 14 and 44), with this work listed first. However, he had composed two earlier quartets in his conservatory days. In reality, the first string quartet he composed is the Quartet in D minor, which can be found on my channel. Published in 1900, the quartet in G minor was dedicated to the Norwegian composer Johan Svendsen for his 60th birthday.
7-9.
String Quartet No. 2 in F minor (1890)
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| English: Carl Nielsen at the performance of Saul and David in Stockholm, 1931 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
I. Allegro non troppo ma energico
II. Un poco adagio
III. Allegretto scherzando
IV. Allegro appasionato - Allegro molto - Prest
A beautiful, energetic string quartet by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). Nielsen published four "official" string quartets as a series (Opp. 13, 5, 14 and 44), with this work listed second. However, he had composed two earlier quartets in his conservatory days. In reality, the second string quartet he composed is the Quartet in F (c.1887), which can be found on my channel.
According to Nielsen, the main theme of the first movement of the quartet in F minor appeared to him suddenly while traveling in a crowded Copenhagen tram. Composing the second movement was quite an ordeal for him, since he was not pleased until he rewrote it three times. The work was to be premiered in a private performance in Berlin for the famous violinist Joseph Joachim. Nielsen described the rehearsal process as follows: "We had held five rehearsals and yet it still sounded very mediocre; it is extremely difficult to play well, since there are so many modulations, often enharmonic affairs that have to be played so cleanly that half the difficulty would have been enough. If you add to this the fear of playing for Joachim, you can imagine that it did not go all that well." Joachim had a mixed reaction to the work, praising the composer for his "imagination and talent" but suggesting substantial changes, which Nielsen declined to accept.
10-12.
String Quartet No. 3 in E flat, Op. 14 (1899)
performed by the Danish Quartet
I. Allegro con brio
II. Andante sostenuto - Andante
III. Allegretto pastorale - Presto - Allegretto pastorale
IV. Finale: Allegro coraggioso - Allegro molto
A string quartet by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). Nielsen published four "official" string quartets as a series (Opp. 13, 5, 14 and 44), with this work listed third. However, he had composed two earlier quartets in his conservatory days. Nielsen had an unfortunate experience while preparing to publish this quartet in 1898. He was going to deliver the manuscript of the final two movements to a copyist. Outside the copyist's shop, he saw an injured horse lying in distress before a cart. He handed the stack of manuscripts he was holding to a boy who was standing nearby and went to help the horse. However, while he was doing this, the boy ran off with Nielsen's music. The composer had to rewrite half the quartet as a result. The work was eventually premiered in 1899 at the "Vor Forening" society, by a quartet that included Ludvig Holm.
13-15.
String Quartet No. 4 in F, Op. 44 (1906)
performed by the Danish Quartet
I. Allegro non tanto e comodo
II. Andante con sentimento religioso
II. Allegretto moderato e innocente
IV. Finale: Molto adagio - Allegro non tanto, ma molto scherzoso - Andante - Molto adagio - Tempo primo
A string quartet by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931). Nielsen published four "official" string quartets as a series (Opp. 13, 5, 14 and 44), with this work listed fourth. However, he had composed two earlier quartets in his conservatory days. This quartet, Nielsen's last, dates from the same period as his comic opera Maskarade. It was first performed privately for the composer's friends in 1906 in Lolland Island. It was not received very well at its public premiere on account of its progressive style. Originally, the quartet had the title "Piacevolezza," but it was dropped when Nielsen revised the work in 1919.
